After nearly a decade spent languishing in exile under plastic tarpaulins, more than 1.3 million displaced Rohingya refugees across Bangladesh are counting down to what could prove the most consequential day of their lives: 19 November.
For the traumatised families crammed into the sprawling, dust-choked camps of Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, as well as the remote island settlement of Bhasan Char in Noakhali, the impending judgment from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague represents far more than a dry legal milestone.
It stands as a long-awaited opportunity for international justice, identity restoration, and a binding guarantee that they will one day return to their ancestral homeland in Myanmar not as stateless outcasts, but as recognised citizens protected by basic human rights.
The legal saga stems from a landmark genocide case filed against Myanmar on 11 November 2019 by the West African nation of Gambia, alleging that the brutal military crackdowns, systemic massacres, and forced displacement targeting the Rohingya in Rakhine State breached the 1948 Genocide Convention.
The high-profile proceedings have since drawn global weight, with eleven nations, including Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Belgium, Ireland, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Maldives, joining the legal intervention.
Although Myanmar repeatedly challenged the court’s authority, the ICJ firmly rejected its preliminary objections in July 2022, asserting absolute jurisdiction to judge the case.
Now, with the final ruling set to be delivered on 19 November, a wave of profound anticipation and quiet emotion has swept through the refugee camps, reigniting passionate conversations about what lies ahead.
For community leaders and ordinary camp residents alike, returning to Myanmar means vastly more than simply crossing the border.
They insist that any sustainable repatriation scheme must grant them full constitutional citizenship, unrestricted freedom of movement, access to public education and healthcare, realistic livelihood opportunities, and rock-solid international security guarantees.
Without these fundamental protections, refugees harbour deep-seated fears that going back could expose them to renewed persecution and violence.
Syed Ullah, founding president of the United Council of Rohingya (UCR), voiced the collective sentiment of a community that has spent almost ten years stranded in limbo.
He noted that whilst international political calculations, including potential vetoes within the United Nations Security Council, could complicate the practical enforcement of the verdict, the ruling will undoubtedly provide vital legal recognition of the atrocities inflicted upon his people, keeping global attention firmly locked on their plight.
Gratitude towards their host nation remains exceptionally deep across the refugee population.
Expressing his appreciation for the shelter provided by the Bangladeshi government and local host communities, current UCR President Khing Mong stressed that the Rohingya did not escape across the border with the intention of living permanently under makeshift plastic sheets.
He praised the immense humanity shown by Bangladesh, which saved hundreds of thousands of lives during the horrific 2017 military exodus, while reiterating that the ultimate goal of every refugee remains a safe, dignified, and permanent return to Arakan.
Sharing similar sentiments, Nabi Hossain, a head majhi at the Leda camp in Teknaf, appealed directly to the international community to dismantle the systematic oppression that has devastated successive generations of Rohingya Muslims, urging world leaders to forge the necessary security conditions so that refugees can finally rebuild their lives back home.
In diplomatic circles, Bangladeshi officials view the forthcoming ICJ ruling as a pivotal instrument for escalating international pressure on Myanmar.
Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Mohammad Mizanur Rahman highlighted that an authoritative judicial declaration confirming that the Rohingya historically belong to Rakhine State would decisively shatter Myanmar’s long-standing narrative that the community consists of illegal foreign infiltrators.
While acknowledging that an ICJ ruling may not trigger immediate physical repatriation, especially given the volatile, ongoing armed conflict between Myanmar’s ruling military junta and the insurgent Arakan Army, officials emphasise that a favourable verdict will grant the Rohingya community unprecedented moral authority and legal leverage on the global stage.
Ultimately, as 19 November approaches, the refugees living along the hillsides of Cox’s Bazar view the court’s decision as a vital lifeline: a chance to reclaim their stolen past and secure a safer future for generations to come.
